The following is a review for our Government exam on

Notes #1-3

1) How many times has the U.S. Constitution been FORMALLY

Amended?(NO #3 )

ANSWER:

27 times, since there are 27 Amendments.

2) This Amendment is nicknamed the “Privacy Amendment”

(NO #3)

ANSWER:

4th Amendment

3) Two Words Needed: This describes all of the goals a government sets and the various courses of action it pursues

as it attempts to realize these goals. (NO #1)

ANSWER:

Public Policies

4) True or False: The U.S. Constitution contains 7 Articles. The major purpose

of each of the 7 articles is to protect individual freedoms.

(NO #2)ANSWER:

False!

The BILL OF RIGHTS (as well as other Amendments) are designed to protect Individual Rights. The Articles create our federal government.

5a) Which branch of the federal government has the power of

Judicial Review? (NO # 3)

ANSWER:

The Judicial Branch (The Supreme Court)

5b) Describe the power of Judicial Review? (NO #3)

ANSWER:

Judicial Review is the ability of the Supreme Court to strike down a law of Congress or action of the President, if it feels that either is violating the Const.

6) Name the three different types of power that all governments

have and use. (NO #1)

ANSWER:

1. Legislative Powers

2. Executive Powers

3. Judicial Powers

7) This section of the U.S. Constitution mentions 6 goals that the Constitution should always aim to reach. What is

the name of this section? (NO #2)

ANSWER:

The Preamble

8) Name 2 of the many duties that the President is responsible for…

(NO #3)ANSWER:

Enforcing Laws of Congress

“Commander-In-Chief” of military

“Chief Diplomat” (Head of foreign policy)

9) What are 3 things that governments do? (NO # 1)

ANSWER:1. Create Public Policies2. Wield Power3. Maintain Order/stability

10) Which Amendment establishes that presidents may not serve for more than

2 terms? (NO #3)

ANSWER:

22nd Amendment

11) In the U.S. Constitution's introduction, 6 major goals are listed. Mention 3 of the 6 goals that can be

found there (NO #2) :

ANSWER:1. Form a more perfect Union2. Establish Justice3. Insure Domestic Tranquility4. Provide for the common defense5. Promote the general welfare6. Secure the blessings of liberty

12) What two freedoms does the 2nd Amendment Protect? (NO # 3)

ANSWER:1. Your “right to bear arms”

(own weapons)2. Protects California’s right to

have a militia (National Guard, etc)

13) One word needed: This is the ability to force an action to

happen or prevent an action from taking place.

(NO #1)

ANSWER:

Power

14) What section of the U.S. Constitution contains the first 10

Amendments? (NO #2)

ANSWER:

The Bill of Rights

15) One Word Needed: This is an institutional body that a

society uses to create and enforce its public policies.

(NO #1)

ANSWER:

Government

16) Please list the five individual freedoms that are protected in the

1st Amendment. (NO #3)

ANSWER: 1. Freedom of Religion2. Freedom of Speech3. Freedom of the Press4. Freedom To Associate5. Freedom To Petition

17) Approximately how many different "States" exist in the

world today? (NO #1)

ANSWER:

190 states currently exist in the world

18) How many state legislatures or conventions (or what fraction)

must agree to RATIFY an Amendment before it officially

becomes part of the U.S. Constitution?

(NO #3)ANSWER:

¾ of all states—or currently 38 out of 50 states.

19) On an international scale, what is another word for country

or nation? (NO #1)

ANSWER:

State

20) How many members of Congress (what fraction) must

agree with an amendment before it can be sent to the states for

ratification? (NO #3)

ANSWER:

2/3 of both houses of Congress must agree to propose it to the states.

21) One word needed: This is the idea that power should be shared between one central government

and several regional/state government. (NO #2)

ANSWER:

FEDERALISM

22) One word needed: What term describes when a country has complete control over its own territory and is not inferior or

subordinate to other countries? (NO #1)

ANSWER:

Sovereign

23) Two words needed: This is a process of making changes to the

actual words of the U.S. Constitution. (NO #3)

ANSWER:

Formal Amendment

24) In order for a group of people to be considered a "State," what are four requirements that must

be met? (NO #1)

ANSWER:1. Must have a population2. Must have territory (land)3. Must be sovereign4. Must have a government

25) What is the difference between DIRECT Democracy and

INDIRECT democracy? (NO #2 )

ANSWER:1. In direct democracy, all voters vote on every issue and

the final decision is based on a majority vote.2. In a representative democracy, representatives

(politicians) to make public policies, decisions, and laws

26) Name the two “houses” of the U.S. Congress. (Memory of video

or worksheets completed)

ANSWER:1. Senate2. House of Representatives

27) This is a built-in system for allowing each branch of

government to use its powers to “check” the other branches of

government. (NO # 2)

ANSWER:

Checks & Balances

28) List 3 out of 5 things that have been able to INFORMALLY

CHANGE the U.S. Constitution in the last 200 years?

(NO #3)ANSWER:1. Actions of the President2. Actions of Congress3. Actions of the Supreme Court4. Political Parties5. Traditions/Customs

29) Name four Theories that attempt to explain why humans

form governments. (NO #1)

ANSWER:1. Force Theory2. Evolutionary Theory3. Divine Right Theory4. Social Contract Theory

30) Two Words Needed: This can be found in Article VI. It

declares that the U.S. Constitution is the “Supreme Law

Of The Land . (NO #2)

ANSWER:

Supremacy Clause

31) Which philosopher WAS THE FIRST to claim that humans

form governments in order to escape a "state of nature?"

(NO #1)

ANSWER:

Thomas Hobbes

32) Explain the concept of “Rule Of Law” (NO #2)

ANSWER:

1. Nobody is “above the law”

2. The government (and government leaders) must obey the law just like ordinary citizens do.

33) Which philosopher is MOST responsible for the creation of the

Social Contract Theory? (NO #1)

ANSWER:

John Locke

34) What is the difference between “Popular Sovereignty” and “Divine Right Theory” in terms of what they say about

power? (NO #1)ANSWER:1. Popular Sovereignty claims that “the people” own all

power2. Divine Right Theory claims that leaders own all power,

because THEY were chosen to lead by God and were granted that power by God.

35) What is a warrant? (NO #3)

ANSWER:

Permission by a court to search or seize your property.

35b) Which Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says that the government

needs to have a warrant (or your permission) if it wants to search your

private property? (NO #3)

ANSWER:

The 4th Amendment (Privacy Amendment).

36) True or False: In order to be considered a "state," the people

must be Homogenous. (NO #1)

ANSWER:

FALSE! The people living in a territory do not have to be similar

37) One word needed: This means to approve of a proposal, or make an Amendment official and part of the U.S. Constitution.

(NO #3)

ANSWER:

To “Ratify “

38) Two words needed: Under this system, citizens elect

representatives (politicians) to make public policies, decisions,

and laws. (NO #2)

ANSWER:

Representative Democracy

39) How can the U.S. Congress INFORMALLY CHANGE the

U.S. Constitution? (NO #3)

ANSWER:

1. By creating regular laws

2. Each law further defines the Constitution.

3. For example, the price of postage stamps is not mentioned in Constitution, so Congress had to create a law to explain it.

ONLY TWO QUESTIONS LEFT

40) Which Amendment protects you against “Random Searches

and Seizures” by the federal government?

(NO #3)

ANSWER:

4th Amendment

41) Approximately how many years old is the U.S. Constitution—answer

must be within 5 years? (NO #2)

ANSWER:

227 years old! It was ratified in 1787.